My whole family has cancer gene except me - Cookstown man

Arthur and Michelle in Peru

A Cookstown man, whose whole family has been devastated by cancer, is giving up his Garth Brooks tickets for the cause.

Arthur Carson, who lost both his brother and a friend to the killer disease his father has also been fighting for over twenty years, is heroically auctioning off his chance to see the country sensation.

The 42-year-old said that if he is going to ask others to sponsor him in a challenge for Cancer Focus Northern Ireland, then it’s only fair they see him give up something important too.

Arthur, whose entire family — except him — have the ‘cancer gene’, told the MAIL: “My father has had cancer for a long time, my brother died of bowel cancer and I have a friend there, who about two years ago got bowel cancer as well.

“They were both too young — in this day and age you shouldn’t be dying of bowel cancer — if it’s detected early enough.

“People have causes that are close to their hearts, and cancer is mine.

“If you could see the hurt in peoples’ faces when they have it, it’s not even them dying — it’s the whole suffering beforehand,” he added.

So, to help families afflicted with cancer, Arthur has decided to do everything he can to help.

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